by Eddie Toh, Business Times
Hat tip: Instapundit; EFL
MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday secured a stunning personal triumph, reversed a so-called green tide of Islamic fundamentalism, and energised his anti-corruption and corporate transparency drive. . . . Yesterday’s results suggested that [theocratic opposition party Parti Islam SeMalaysia]’s strength in the 1999 poll was built more on a Maly revolt against the handling of the Anwar saga than any fundamental shift in the Maly polity towards Islamic fundamentalism. Mr Abdullah said the landslide win signalled voters’ desire for development, economic progress, efficiency in the civil service and a clean and transparent government, key planks of his electoral strategy. |